Historical Korean Drama 2022 : Sometimes all you want to do is get out of the present and enter the past, whether it’s for a rest from your everyday challenges and difficulties or because you’re looking for period/historical drama programming that will help you do so. Who wouldn’t want to live in a castle with beautiful dresses and noble suitors? Or participate in a war that will determine the fate of an entire nation? People adore Historical Korean Dramas 2022 for any reason or cause.
Here are some fantastic television series for those searching for a new historical period drama to a marathon.
Table of Contents
What are some of the most accurate Historical Korean dramas?
There are several great Historical Korean dramas, but here are some of the most accurate:
-Queen Seondeok
-Dong Yi
-Lee San, Wind of the Palace
-Queen for Seven Days
Each of these dramas is based on actual events and tells the story of some of Korea’s most prominent historical figures. They’re all beautifully written and well-acted, so I recommend giving them a watch!
What are the best Korean Historical Dramas that are Dark and have Romance?
Many great Korean historical dramas fit this description, but some of our favorites include “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”, “Hwarang”, and “Jang Ok-Jung, Living by Love”. These dramas are incredibly well-written and offer a unique perspective on Korean history. If you’re looking for something dark and romantic, these dramas are for you!
5 Happy Ending Historical Korean Romantic Dramas
There are quite a few happy ending historical Korean dramas out there! Here are just a few of our favorites:
Lovers of the Red Sky
IMDb: 7.7
Hong Chun Ki (Kim Yoo-Jung) was a painter during the Joseon Dynasty, an uncommonly in Korea’s Confucian society, where such activities were considered unsuitable for women. She was born blind yet somehow gained the ability to see. She has been accepted to one of Korea’s most prestigious art institutions.
She encounters Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo-Seop), an astrologer with a destiny that is the polar opposite of hers: Despite being blind, he lost his vision in a childhood incident. Regardless, he possesses an incredible skill that allows him to read the future by tracking the movement of the sky at night, even though he is blind.
The pair is drawn into the politics of the royal court, particularly those involving two princes: free-spirited Prince Yang Myung and bloodthirsty Prince Joo Hyang – a man who longs to succeed King Joseon.
The King’s Affection
IMDb: 8.0
In the Joseon Dynasty, the story takes place when twin births are seen as bad omen. Consequently, when the Crown Princess Consort gives birth to twins, one of them is murdered by order of the court. She is secretively sent out of the palace to protect her.
After a few years, the twin daughter Da Mi (Park Eun-Bin) comes back to the palace as a maid. When the male twin, Lee Hwi, is mistakenly killed due to mistaken identity, their mother persuades her to replace Lee Hwi at her son’s request. Lee Hwi, even though she tries to avoid getting close to people, develops feelings for Jung Ji Woon (Rowoon), her original first love and later educator who comes from a respectable family.
Love in the Moonlight
IMDb: 8.2
Hong Ra On (Kim Yoo-Jung) disguises herself as a man and advises men on dating to protect herself and her family. Crown Prince Hyo Myung (Park Bo-Gum) encounters Ra On after she writes a love letter for a customer. Ra On is unaware that he is the Crown Prince, and Hyo Myung is oblivious of Ra On’s gender. Loan sharks force Ra On to become a eunuch, and the Crown Prince and Ra On begin to fall in love. As Ra On struggles to survive at court while the Crown Prince tries to win over his subjects, will their Romance succeed?
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
IMDb: 8.2
The narrative took place in the 19th century. Goo Hae Ryung (Shin Se-Kyung) is an intern at court studying history. But it was not permissible for ladies to write historical records. She takes tiny steps toward establishing her fate in Joseon, where Confucian principles are firmly entrenched.
She’s tired of seeing history misrepresented, and she wants to prove that everyone is equal by doing her job as a historian. The drama will tell her love story with Prince Yi Rim (Cha Eun-Woo), who has his secret.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
IMDb: 7.8
Kim Yoon Hee (Park Min-Young) is a bright, responsible young woman with a strong will. She has worked hard to support her family since her father died but excelled in school. When their family’s health deteriorates, and their house may be demolished for lack of funds, Kim Yoon Hee decides to take the male-only national examination under her younger brother’s name to help him.
Kim Yun Hee meets Lee Seon Joon (Park Yoochun) on the exam day and becomes friends. Lee Seon Joon is a wealthy young man with good looks. He’s also conceited. They both pass the national examination, and she is forced to share a room with him at Sungkyunkwan University while keeping her true identity a secret. She becomes acquainted with playboy Goo Yong Ha (Song Joong-Ki) and rebels Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah-In).
The Best 10 Period Dramas and Historical: Shows on Netflix and Viu Right Now
Mr.Queen
IMDb: 8.9
Jang Bong Hwan (Choi Jin-Hyuk) is a South Korean chef who has worked up the ranks to cook for South Korea’s top politicians in the Blue House’s presidential palaces. Jang Bong Hwan wakes up in the body of young queen Kim So Yong (Shin Hye Sun) after being whisked away to an era deep in Korea’s history following a terrible accident.
Queen Kim So Yong’s husband, King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung-Hyun), is the current monarch, but he has very little power. Queen Sun Won of late King Sunjo has taken advantage of King Cheol Jong’s kinder nature and is ruling in his name. Also vying for control is her brother, Kim Jwa Guen, who desires. Queen Kim So Yong will find that her spouse has some secrets about him; he does not appear to be as meek and mild as he appears.
Mr. Sunshine
IMDb: 8.8
During the final years of the Joseon dynasty, this Korean historical drama takes place. Around the time of Japan’s occupation of Korea, the narrative is set. Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-Hun) is a runaway slave who makes his fortune in America as a US Marine Corps and returns to Korea on a quest. The unexpected happens when he returns to Korea on a mission – he falls in love with an Aristocrat’s granddaughter who is also involved in a political movement!
You won’t be bored even for an episode because you’ll be so captivated by the program’s plot twists and political turns. At the same time, the strong chemistry between the main characters, Lee Byung-Hun and Kim Tae-Ri, will keep your attention engaged. If you appreciate historical period dramas that are accurate, Mr. Sunshine is a must-see! The show does a fantastic job of accurately portraying the historical period, from clothes to locations.
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
IMDb: 8.2
This historical Korean series is perfect if you don’t want to watch a heavy, political narrative but still want something entertaining. It’s about the Hearings, the kingdom’s titular elite fighters dedicated to protecting the royal family and regime.
No one knows that their prince (Park Hyung-Sik) and future king is among them, too! I particularly enjoyed the Hwarang: Warrior Poet Youth because this Korean historical drama utilized antiquated times to provide humor and uncomfortable situations while still driving the story forward. It isn’t technically a Korean Joseon drama since the action occurs in the sixth century during the Silla dynasty’s reign. However, it is a very modern program with lots of entertainment, Romance, fluff, and other characteristics that make Korean dramas so popular throughout the world, with Park Seo-Joon, Park Hyung-Sik, Kim Taehyung (V BTS), and Go Ara starring.
Queen for Seven Days
IMDb: 7.7
This historical tale is based on a Korean legend about King Jung Jong (Yeon Woo-Jin) and his Queen Dan Kyung (Park Min-Young), who was crowned and deposed in seven days by opposing political factions ruled the country. According to legend, after the queen’s deposition and removal from the palace, the king would go to an outside royal pavilion every day and sigh as he gazed at a mountain in her direction. She then piled up a red skirt, one of her favorite attire in the palace, on top of a rock on the peak so that he would know she was well and that she still longed for him.
Moon Embracing the Sun
IMDb: 8.0
The daughter of a high-ranking official, Heo Yeon Woo (Han Ga-in), goes to the royal palace to attend her brother’s civil service exam congratulatory event. She meets Crown Prince Lee Hwon (Kim Soo-Hyun) by chance. They fall in love, and Yeon Woo is chosen as the future Queen of Joseon.
Before they can marry, the Dowager Queen plots their assassination to install Yoon Bo Gyeong, the daughter of a family clan, as Crown Princess, giving herself greater power. She issues a command for the head shaman to cast a spell on Yeon Woo that causes her to acquire an unknown sickness. After dying, Yeon Woo is resurrected from her grave but loses her memories. Yeon Woo is considered dead by everyone, including the Crown Prince Lee Hwon, who refuses to love again. Eight years pass before Wol (meaning moon) returns as a shaman named Yeon Woo. Meanwhile, the young king begins to investigate his lover’s death after seeing the adult version. However, he is running out of time since the queen’s powerful political family seeks his removal from office.
Empress Ki
IMDb: 8.6
Suppose you’re looking for a thrilling narrative with a strong female protagonist. Gi Seungnyang (Ha Ji-Won) stars as Empress Ki in this account of her life, which follows the rise of a commoner from the Goryeo era who breaks free from class constraints. She marries Emperor Temur (Ji Chang-Wook), the ruler of the Mongol Empire, and gradually rises to Empress. However, while Emperor Temur is completely smitten with her, Gi Seungnyang still has feelings for Wang-Yu (Ju Jin-Mo), her former lover.
The Red Sleeve
IMDb: 8.8
Lee San (Lee Jun-ho) is an aloof and perfection-loving young prince in Korea during the second half of the 1700s. His father’s death haunts him, although he is now king because of his grandfather—the cruel and unjust incumbent monarch who murdered Lee San’s father—dying. He has decided to become a good ruler who will change the law when he takes power, but how his father died has injured him emotionally.
He meets a young woman named Sung Deok Im (Lee Se-Young) in the palace, who works in the kitchen. Lee San is smitten with her and tries to persuade her to be his concubine. However, Sung Deok Im is a strong-willed and free-spirited lady. She is also clever enough to recognize that becoming a royal consort to the future king is an impressive position with benefits, but one that would limit her freedom and most likely offer her little pleasure. But Lee San’s devotion to Sung Deok Im is genuine, and she begins to realize that their relationship might be beneficial to his troubled nation.
Dong Yi
IMDb: 8.2
Dong Yi is a historical drama about the life of Dong Yi (Han Hyo-Joo), who later became known as Choi Suk Bin. She was employed in the royal court as a low-level water maid. King Sok Jong (Ji Jin-hee) subsequently picked Choi as his concubine. Yeong Jo, the second son of King Sok Jong and future king of Joseon, would be born due to this arrangement. Dong Yi would then go by Suk Bin after giving birth to Yeong Jo (Lee San Grandfather).
Moonshine
IMDb: 8.6
The prohibition of alcohol in the Joseon dynasty proved that regulating it was no match for human desire. These people faced several problems due to the laws prohibiting drinking, buying, or producing alcohol.
Inspector Nam Young (Yoo Seung-ho), who left his village to pursue glory in Hanyang and reclaim his family status, Kang Ro Seo (Lee Hyeri), the aristocratic but impoverished lady who makes moonshine to help pay off her debt so she can continue buying her mother’s medicine and her brother’s books; and even Crown Prince Lee Pyo (Byeon Woo-Seok), who was known for scaling palace walls in search of a drink. The protagonist has a close encounter with the two betrothed couples, which results in discovering a hidden supply of alcohol. This secret will undoubtedly result in death.
100 Days my Prince
IMDb: 7.8
The perfect royal, Crown Prince Lee Yul (Do Kyung-Soo), is a stuffy perfectionist who disregards most royal palace nobles. His icy and demanding attitude is merely an act to cover his tremendous loneliness. He passes a law requiring that Korean males of marriageable age marry by 28.
Hong Shim (Nam Ji-Hyun) is a strong, clever woman who works and supports herself. Crown Prince Lee Yul is shot in the attempt on his life, and he is taken to the Hong house for treatment. He has lost his memory and now considers himself a commoner with free reign to wander at will.
Hong Shim, now the oldest unmarried lady in her village, is forced by law to marry or face punishment from officials. Lee Yul proposes to Hong Shim that they should get married. Will their budding relationship survive when Lee Yul regains his memory completely?
Lastly,
Although the period is most during the Joseon dynasty, the storylines are always new and relevant. There are historical love stories, thriller dramas, and even political conspiracies. So you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. Enjoy!
Kimdaemi is Korea’s number one fan of all things Kpop and K-drama. She loves nothing more than trying out new experiences and exploring new places, so you can always expect her to be up for a good time! Kimdaemi is also completely obsessed with learning about new cultures, which is why she loves travelling so much.
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